WILLS and DEEDS
( Most of this information was from Sue Montgomery COOK , and research performed by myself, and from other sources )
1 ) Captain Abraham DENTON-m-Mary O'DELL, left an DEED dated August 12, 1774 which was signed by Mary Denton LITTLE . Dorothy CLOCK (CLARK) Elizabeth SMITH and Mary PARESON (PEARSON) made their marks.
Abraham's will was written August 12, 1774 and probated September 27, 1774 in Shenandoah Co, VA . Died in 1779 in Shenandoah, VA . Will book A, page 200, Woodstock, Shenandoah Co, VA, pgs. 228-229 . Administration and inventory of estate and apportionment . Heirs : Elizabeth SMITH, Hannah SMITH and Daridea CLOCK ( CLARK ). ( These were probably Mary's sisters who took care of her in her old age as her children had already moved on by the time her husband died ) .
2 ) From the copies of the deed book in " Kinfolks of Granville Co, NC, 1765-1826 " by Zae Hargett GWYNN : Benjamin DENTON and wife, Celia DENTON, and their children, John DENTON, Rueben DENTON, and Polly BECKHAM, wife of John BECKHAM, sold land willed to said Celia DENTON for her lifetime by Thomas WIGGINS and then to go to her children, Frederick DENTON, Samuel DENTON, and Elizabeth DENTON were also children of Benjamin and Celia DENTON. Frederick WIGGINS also signed this deed .
From the 1803-1806 Court minutes of Granville Co, NC : "DEED from Benjamin, Celia, John, Rueben DENTON, John BECKHAM, Frederick WIGGINS and Polly BECKHAM to Stephen SNEED, 197 acres and Celia DENTON relinquished her dower right in said land ".
Benjamin DENTON is listed in the tax records for Granville Co, NC, in 1784 and 1786, no Township listed.
3 ) Abraham DENTON, Sr. had purchased land from Richard VOLENTINE of Hempstead, L I., on March 3, 1700. The Orange Co, NY records show, " Abraham DENTON, Senr., of Precinct of Haverstraw to son Abraham DENTON, land . Delivered in presence of Jonas DENTON and John DENTON, January 10, 1729-30 .
4 ) From JAMES DENTON'S WILL : " In the name of God, Amen, I James DENTON, of Herricks, in the town of Hempstead, in Queens County, being very ill of body. I leave to my wife, Jane, all of my movable estate and household goods, ` and cattle and living creatures ', and use of my dwelling house, and one half of my barn and one half of all lands and meadows during her widowhood and after her death the whole is to go to my son James DENTON. If he dies before he is of the age of twenty-one, then all my brothers, Abraham and Jonas DENTON. I make my wife and my son James and my brother-in-law, William, executors". Dated the 7th day of the 3rd month, 1713. Witnesses : Ezekiel SMITH, Joseph WOOD. proved at the Jamaica before Issac HICKS, Judge, February 3, 1723.